Peter and Gordon put out some very interesting stuff over their time as a group. In fact, the main part of the fun of enjoying such an obscure group is the thrill of the hunt for rare stuff! On this page, I will analyze labels, variations, and other aspects of their United States releases. Sadly, I do not have the resources to do similar for foreign (to me) releases, but if you'd like to donate your P&G collections to me, overseas-ers, then I might consider it!
This was the release that made them big. It was also their first release. It was issued without a picture sleeve, and like all pre 1968 singles, was issued on the standard capitol "swirl label".
Having gone #1 with their first single, Capitol this time deemed them worthy of a black and white picture sleeve. It features the photo that is on the front cover of their first LP.
After charting quite high with their first two singles, Capitol pressed buckets of this one with a sleeve, and it is easily the most common picture sleeve. Unfortunately, the sleeve is another of those dull black and white affairs.
Finally, a color sleeve! This single was issued with a beautiful color sleeve, though, unfortunately, the photo would later be used for the "True Love Ways LP cover, and another single sleeve. This single was reissued on a blue "Starline" label in 1981, as part of Capitol's British Invasion reissue campaign, which also saw the LP "The Best of Peter and Gordon" rereleased.
A delightful record decorated with a delightful sleeve. This picture is set off well by a bit of green type on the top. See it here.
This single has, in my opinion, the nicest design of all P&G sleeves. This sleeve is green bordered, with a concert photo.
Can you say "cash in"? Capitol records could when they issued this extra 45 from July '65's "True Love Ways" LP. Ironically, this October release coincided with the first UK release of the a side, but we're not worried about that, are we. In one of those amazing instances of sheer corporate silliness (which so frequently haunted Capitol in the 1960s), the label was somehow surprised when this single only made it to #83 on Billboard. Capitol seemed to be obsessed with these stale (to US LP buyers) tracks in late 1965. This was the same time frame in which they tried to get a full fledged issue of the Beatles year-old "Kansas City". Ironically, when the Beatles "Kansas City" came out as a Starline budget 45 in October, it charted even worse than this P&G single, only managing to "bubble under" at #102.
A "dual a side" reissue of P&G's first two singles. Issued on the Starline label, most common on a red & white target Starline label from the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Another no sleeve-er, but this disc is so good that it is excused. This disc is useful if you don't want to sit through the horrible "duophonic" mix on the US stereo LP (and, for that matter, the "Collectables" label CDs. See Alternates and rarities for more).
This one comes in a charming red sleeve, which, unfortunately, is the third US Capitol release to feature the same picture!(from the "True Love Ways" LP.) You can see it(as well as a portion of "I Don't Want To See You Again"). Other discographies reverse the sides on this disc, but there is no doubt that "Stranger With A Black Dove" was intended as the a side. Not only is this evidenced by the fact that b side (which ended up the hit) had just been issued by Manfred Mann, and thus P&G would be playing the odds to release it as the a side, but it is also evident in contemporary Capitol promotional material, like this ad from Cashbox, dated May 6, 1966.
A wonderful single which, if not for the success of "Knight In Rusty Armour" (and Capitol's inherent 'in it for the money-ness')would have been a non-lp disc. But since it isn't, and there's no pretty cover, I'll move on.
Lady Godiva as a b side? Well, yes. For three weeks. At least some people say so. There is some dispute about whether or not "Lady Godiva" was really meant as the b side (the usually reliable matrix numbers, and thus I, say no), but, since this version was on the market for such a short time, and "The Town I Live In" is so rare, it is just too convenient to follow conventional wisdom (the other discographies), whether or not it really is historically accurate. This one is a toughy, and even though it does not have a pretty picture sleeve, it is a must buy. This single, with an anti-small town a side, was withdrawn, and replaced by the hit record, "Lady Godiva" (no, not this one, the next one). Also, the levels on this single are not done right, so the song is at too low of a volume level at parts. Internationally, "The Town I Live In" would only appear again on an Australian EP.
The better 45, both commercially and artistically. Note that the catalogue number is identical to the above record. This record, identical to the UK release, was issued very quickly after the earlier 5740 was withdrawn, in early September. Again, no sleeve. Also, "Morning's Calling" is an echo laden mix, but not quite as blurred as the LP mix, but very similar. There is no true stereo mix of "Morning's Calling" on a US record.
A nice picture sleeve accompanies this one, tastefully done in black and white, with a colored "Peter and Gordon". (See it right here). This single is important musically, as it features a different mix from the LP.
The last single that was even close to a real hit is also the last with a picture sleeve. The sleeve features a 'split screen' of Peter and Gordon at an open air concert. No one will ever be able to explain to me how a two year old song was on the b side, though.
"Woman"/"I Don't Want To See You Again" (Capitol Starline 6155; spring 1967)
A budget label 45, combining two previous a sides. Initially issued with a red and white "target" label, but reissued on a gold label in the mid 1970s.
The last song that Capitol tried to pretend was a hit. It was also the theme to the movie "The Jokers". This b side is important unless you want to track down the rather difficult to find mono version of the "In London For Tea" LP, as it is in "duophonic stereo" on the stereo LP.
An apropos song to release as their first non top 100 disc. These two tracks are excellent, and are taken from the (then) forthcoming "Hot Cold And Custard" LP. This single (and the remainder of 1960s P&G 45s) is easier to find as a promotional copy than as a store "stock" copy.
Again, a thoroughly ironic title, as, though musically, they were at their peak, commercially, it was all over. This single sold so poorly that the pea green colored Capitol promo version is easier to find than "swirl label" commercial copies. "Sipping My Wine", on the mono promo copies of this disc, has a three second longer fade.
Peter and Gordon's final release is also their first with the standard Capitol "target label". This single is easily the most sought after American Peter and Gordon piece (bar the next two discs, but theres a good reason for that). These tracks are the only totally non LP tracks ever released in America (barring "The Town I Live In", which was withdrawn). Some discographies reverse the sides of this disc, but a look at the matrix numbers on the label shows that "Hard Time, Rainy Day", with the one digit earlier matrix number, is the a side. This is also the only P&G single to be released in stereo. An excellent end to an excellent group.
Open-End Interview/Nobody I Know/Lucille/If I Were You
An interview disc, with the questions and answers printed on the picture sleeve, and the answers on the disc. All of the songs are in mono, and "Nobody I Know" comes on directly as the interview ends. All tracks are in their regular mono mixes. This one is next to impossible to find, as these Open End interviews were distributed in very small quantities, and only to radio stations that expressed an interest in P&G. The disc is much more difficult to find than the (infinitely more expensive) Beatles promo interviews for "Meet The Beatles" and "Second Album". The reason for this is pretty obvious, the Beatles were in a lot more demand in 1964, and more culturally significant, so people tended to save the Beatles promos (of which there were more to begin with) and trash the P&G one after it was out of date. Also, buyer beware, if you get this disc without the sleeve, you will have no idea what questions P&G are answering!
This disc features the Beatles "introducing" two Capitol artists by way of brief (3 second or so) intro and closing comments. Paul introduces P&G's "I Don't Want To See You Again", while John introduces Cilla Black's "It's Just For You". The b side features these songs without the Beatle comments. This was a radio only disc, on a red Capitol label. It is much counterfeited, and it's no wonder. That 12 seconds of Beatle talk raises the price of this disc by about $2000!
The first P&G album is a very good piece of British folk. It is essentially the first UK album (entitled "Peter & Gordon")"capitol-ized" by removing the track "Long Time Gone" (which was never issued in the US). All P&G Capitol LPs have the Capiotl "rainbow label", black with a rainbow of color around the perimeter, unless otherwise noted.The stereo mixes are typical of the early to mid 1960s, all unbalanced, with vocals predominantly to the left, and instruments predominantly to the right. A hint of echo was added to the US LP compared to international releases.
I Don't Want To See You Again/Nobody I Know/My Babe/Willow Garden/Two Little Love Birds/Land Of Oden/Freight Train/Love Me Baby/Soft As The Dawn/Leave Me Alone/Lonely Avenue
The second P&G album stateside was a severe Capitol cut-up job of the second UK album ("In Touch With Peter and Gordon). The tracks "Barbara Allen", "My Little Girl's Gone", "Ain't That Loving You, Baby", and "Leave Me In The Rain" from the UK album would never see US issue, while "A Mess Of The Blues", "I Still Love You", and "I Don't Care What They Say" from the UK album would be on the next US LP. Added to the US LP was the hit single "Nobody I Know", though on stereo copies it has been "processed for stereo phongraphs". The other mixes are, again, unbalanced (vocals left/instruments right), and have a slight bit of echo that the UK releases do not have. For slightly drier (crisp, without blurring echo) mixes of this LP on CD, seek out the "In Touch With Peter and Gordon" CD, which includes ever so slightly dryer mixes of the album in both mono and stereo.
I Go To Pieces/Sleepless Nights/Tears Don't Stop/If You Wish/All Shook Up/What You Gonna Do 'Bout It/Good Morning Blues/Someone Ain't Right/A Mess Of The Blues/I Still Love You/I Don't Care What They Say
Another mishmash of overseas LPs, this time with no real UK equivalent. After "I Go To Pieces" was released, Capitol just couldn't resist issuing this stop-gap LP to capitalize on the hit. Included are three tracks from ther UK "In Touch With Peter and Gordon" (see above), both sides of the "I Go To Pieces" single, and two tracks only issued in the United States "Sleepless Nights" and "Good Morning Blues"). Stereo copies of this LP have the title track in a very clear, balanced, stereo mix.
Don't Pity Me/Cry To Me/To Know You Is To Love You/I Told You SoWho's Lovin' You/Any Day Now (My Wild Beautiful Bird)/Crying In The Rain/Hurtin' Is Lovin'/Broken Promises/When The Black Of Your Eyes Turn To Grey/True Love Ways
This US LP greatly resembles the UK "Hurtin' & Lovin'" LP, but excludes "All Shook Up", "Tears Don't Stop","What You Gonna Do 'Bout It", "Someone Ain't Right" (all issued on "I Go To Pieces" LP), and adds "To Know You Is To Love You", it's b side, "I Told You So", and "True Love Ways" (another hit single). "True Love Ways" on this LP is in a duophonic mix on stereo copies, but in a surprisingly clear mix on the mono LP. The rest of the mixes are balanced (vocals, instruments interweaved on both channels), but do have some of that good old Capitol echo.
I've Got A Tiger By The Tail/Sweet Dreams/Before You Go/Please Help Me I'm Falling/I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry/The Race Is On/My Heart Skips A Beat/Lonely Street/Send Me The Pillow You Dream On/I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know/Memphis
Totally fabulous, hard to get a hold of, and made in the USA. This LP, recorded in Nashville, has 11 tracks which are exclusive to this release. For some odd reason, on the backs of the LPs, this one is never shown, yet "Woman" is shown on the back of this one's cover, casting significant doubt on whether it really was released when it supposedly was (four weeks before "Woman"). This is a tough one to find, especially in stereo, and non-cutouts are a rarity. P&G would later rerecord "Please Help Me, I'm Falling" for "In London For Tea". This LP has good balanced mixes, without too much use of echo.
Woman/Wrong From The Start/As Long As I Have You/Let It Be Me/Green Leaves Of Summer/High Noon/I Know A Man/Brown, Black & Gold/3:10 To Yuma/Somewhere/There's No Living Without You're Loving
The "Peter and Gordon '66" album, almost. Or is it the "Somewhere" UK album? Includes "Let It Be Me", "Woman", "Wrong From The Start", "I Know A Man", "Brown, Black and Gold", and "There's No Living Without Your Loving" from P&G '66. The remainder come from the UK release "Somewhere". The album is in balanced stereo mixes, barring the unbalanced "As Long As I Have You", "Green Leaves Of Summer", "I Know A Man", and "Black, Brown And Gold". Also, "Woman" is in a horrible "duophonic" mix on the stereo LP, which, interestingly, has a binding that reads "Peter and Gordon '66 Woman". Perhaps Capitol was suffering from indecision, though an identity crisis is more likely. Recently uncovered LP proof slicks (soon to be online) show that the LP was initially called "Peter And Gordon '66", but that, sometime after the back cover art was delivered, someone changed their mind (due to the slow hit status of the title track), crossing out "'66" on the back cover and writing in "Woman". Their instructions (in orange highlighter) on the binding were to eliminate "'66" and add "Woman". Somebody must have not noticed their last minute rethink, and the cross out of "'66" on the binding, because it made it on to the binding (along with the title "Woman") regardless of Capitol's best efforts. Another small mystery solved.
A World Without Love/True Love Ways/If I Were You/I Told You So/To Know You Is To Love You/Don't Pity Me/I Go To Pieces/I Don't Want To See You Again/Love Me Baby/If You Wish/Woman
A greatest hits collection released on Capitol's budget label, Starline. Later reissued in the mid 1970s on a yellow label, and again (in 1981) with a new catalogue number and a green label. Both of these reissues are without "If You Wish". Stereo copies have the same mixes that were released with their respective LPs.
Lady Godiva/The Exodus Song/Young And Beautiful/When I Fall In Love/A Taste Of Honey/Baby I'm Yours/Love Is A Many Splendored Thing/Morning's Calling/If I Fell/Till There Was You
Another Capitol hybrid. From "P & G '66": "Baby, I'm Yours", and "Morning's Calling", the rest are from "Somewhere", excepting "Lady Godiva". Has one of the greatest covers in 1960s pop. Stereo copies include "Morning's Calling" in duophonic (which actually does a bit of good), while the rest of the LP is balanced stereo. Mono copies have this track in the same mix as the 45, though, for some reason, the LP tricks the ear into thinking this is a wetter mix on first listening.
Knight In Rusty Armour/Stranger With A Black Dove/To Show I Love You/A Boy With Nothing/My First Day Alone/Colour Blue/The Flower Lady/I Would Buy You Presents/Baby What You Want Me To Do/Homeward Bound/Young Girl Of Sixteen
Ack! Capitol decided to do some housecleaning when it was clear that there was no new LP imminent, and "Knight In Rusty Armour" was a hit. This album includes the single tracks "Knight In Rusty Armour", "The Flower Lady", "To Show I Love You", and the by now ancient "I Would Buy You Presents", combined with the leftovers from "Peter & Gordon '66". It also adds the otherwise unreleased "A Boy With Nothing", and "Baby What Do You Want Me To Do?". Even mono copies have "I Would Buy You Presents" in a very muddy, wet mix. This is because, unlike previously, there was no seperate mono master done for this LP, and the mono LP is just a reduction of the 2 stereo channels. This was likely done as a cost (and time) saver, since less and less people were buying mono LPs by the end of 1967. Besides making the clear mono mix of "I Would Buy You Presents" only available on a 1964 45, this practice also meant that the original single mix of "Knight In Rusty Armour" would not appear on an original Peter and Gordon LP (it did make it to a various artists CD, however, 24 years later). This mix of "Knight In Rusty Armour", which has become the common mix, features a new vocal overdubbed by Gordon, but the old one (on the single mix) can still be heard. "Homeward Bound" is just barely not duophonic. The other mixes are balanced stereo except "Colour Blue" and "I Would Buy You Presents", which are old unbalanced mixes. The release of this LP meant that there was only one track previously issued in the states that had not been on an LP - "The Town I Live In" from the withdrawn Capitol 5470 single.
London At Night/The Jokers/I'm Your Puppet/Here Comes That Hurt Again/You've Got Your Troubles/Sally Go 'Round The Roses/Sunday For Tea/Red, Cream & Velvet/Stop, Look & Listen/Please Help Me, I'm Falling/Goodbye My Love
Created just for the American market? Perhaps, as this one features several tracks never released abroad, though, unlike the "...Nashville" LP, it is doubtful that it was planned that way. It also includes both sides of the single "The Jokers", and "Sunday For Tea". Interestingly, the mono of this LP does not include an echoed stereo or a "duophonic" mix of a mono track. "Red Cream And Velvet" is in clear mono here, just like the single. That may only be slight consolation, though, as this is the rarest (and last) of the mono LPs. Placing this clear mix on the LP was a particularly odd thing to do, considering the fact that on "Knight In Rusty Armour" there was not a seperate mono LP master compiled. The rest of the mixes are balanced stereo, which, by 1967, was standard practice (and still is). It is also the hardest to find LP without cutout markings. Frequently this LP is found with a series of small holes punched to spell out "FREE". This means that it was a giveaway promotional copy. The more typical single hole is just a standard cutout. Recently uncovered LP proof slicks show that the track "Goodbye My Love" was originally listed as "Goodbye My Lover, Goodbye".
I Feel Like Going Out/Freedom Is A Breakfast Food/Never Ever/The Magic Story Of The Park Keeper And His Fairy Godmother/Sipping My Wine/Greener Days/You've Had Better Times/The Quest For The Holy Grail/She Needs Love/Uncle Hartington/Cos You're A Star
Makes you wonder why it had to end. This fantastic (and quite rare) LP was their final one, and includes the most recent singles. The lack of a mono version makes the mono mix of "Sipping My Wine" from a Capitol promo 45 necessary, as it is the longest version of this song available. All tracks are balanced stereo, though "She Needs Love" slips precariously close to the unbalanced category. After this, Peter and Gordon would release one single, and be no more. What they left behind was a lot of good music.
